Brother Ride 2015

The last of our five day ride requires only that we make it to our mother’s house in the evergreen hills between Troy and Moscow, Idaho. This day seems always to arrive sooner than expected, four brothers, five days in the blink of an eye.

More photos like this

We see while packing up why Jesse’s tail light went out yesterday. The license plate heat shield from day one was not up to the task. Much of the back end is melted, including the waterproof duffel perched there.

More photos like this

Marble Creek fires mean we’ll route again through actively logged, patchwork forests between Clarkia and Calder. Dust was settled by days of welcome rain so passing log trucks are only a bother when they seem to swerve toward us (what’s with that?). The road leads us over mountains and into meadows where the air is filled with the smell of fern and cedar.

photo_camera

Camera Settings

local_offer

More photos like this

We went a little off-plan to intersect again with Clarkia for extra gas. We saw no closure signs from our direction and have seen no fire activity but it looks like our ad hoc direction brought us to the edge of the fire zone.

More photos like this

We beeline to the J&E stop in Clarkia. Well, most of us do. Where’s Jeremy? “I know he knows how to get here,” Joel remarks. We’re almost ready to send a search party after five minutes when he comes puttering around the corner.

“Chain jumped,” he explains.

photo_camera

Camera Settings

local_offer

More photos like this

We conference a moment and quickly conclude a final burger and beer would be pretty great. As she takes our order, I’m tempted to remind the proprietor of banging on the gas pump with a hammer to make it work six years ago¹ and yelling at Jeremy for going behind the bar three years ago,² but I doubt she’d remember. So I just smile to myself.

Straight lines catch my eye up a hillside along Wagner Gulch. I’m glad for an excuse to stand on the pegs a moment to get up there and investigate. I’m greeted by a decaying stone structure, unready to reveal any of its secrets.

More photos like this

I stand a moment on the usual outcrop and look across the unique Palouse Hills where my brothers and I, and our parents, spent childhoods laughing, laboring and exploring. In my mind’s eye are many people I’ve stood here with across the decades, some I’m still connected with, others long gone.

More photos like this

Moscow Mountain has been part of our mental landscape for longer than we can remember. We heard stories from our dad of motorcycling over the mountain to work at the mill. Our parents brought us here as kids to hike, sled and bicycle. And of course I motorcycled here regularly during my teen years.

So it is disorienting to see it changed today, bare ground where once was deep forest shade. The land is private so we can’t begrudge its use for profit. It just takes a minute to absorb.

More photos like this

Jeremy, Joel and I waste no time loading motorcycles into truck or onto trailer. They depart with a handshake. I planned to stay overnight before driving but realize I have energy to drive. I leave a message for my mom, give Jessica notice, and head out as the sun begins to set on year eight.